EDITORIALS & FEATURES
980510
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Storming of the Supreme Court - 5
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Ardeshir Cowasjee
ON April 4, the Bench presided over by Justice Nasir
Aslam Zahid,
sitting with Justices Munawar Ahmad Mirza and Abdur
Rahman Khan,
now inquiring into the pre-planned Storming of the
Supreme Court
by parliamentarians, members and supporters of the
PML on November
28,1997 heard the statements of three witnesses.
Media-wizard who knows all the tricks of the political
trade,
Hussain Haqqani, filed his affidavit, as did Altaf
Hussain Bhatti
of Asas / Lashkar, and Aslam Butt of the Frontier
Post.
Haqqani suggested that the November 28 video
recordings of the
Supreme Court CCTV cameras, and those made by
the various TV crews,
be shown on PTV, and members of the general
public invited to
identify any recognizable individuals. This
is in line with the
action taken by the Tribunal that inquired
into
Murtaza Bhutto's
murder, also presided over by Justice Nasir
Aslam Zahid, which had
"published a notice in the newspapers that
anyone in possession of
any information regarding the incident in
question may send his
name and address and an affidavit to the
Registrar of the
Tribunal...".
Brave Bhatti, shrugging off all 'inconveniences',
filed his
affidavit, written in Urdu, relevant translated
portions of which
read :
"I was an eye-witness to whatever happened outside
and inside
Courtroom No.1 on November 28, 1997 and give this
statement to
assist the apex court of the country in my
capacity as a
responsible citizen.
"Whilst the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sajjad
Ali Shah
comprising Justices Bashir Jehangiri, Mohammed Arif,
Maimoon Kazi
and Munir A Shaikh, was hearing the contempt of court
case against
the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians on
November 27, 1997,
Zafar Ali Shah, MNA, Advocate of the Supreme Court
rose and said
that the Chief Justice could not conduct the Court,
as after the
judgment of the Quetta Bench he was no longer CJ.
Minister Chaudhry
Nisar Ali Khan, and MNAs/MPAs Kabir Khan, Inamullah
Niazi, Sardar
Naseem and Advisor to PM Mushtaq Tahirkheli also
stood up in Court
in support of Zafar Ali Shah. The Muslim League
crowd present also
heckled the CJ, and when he declared that the
Quetta Bench decision
was null and void in law they shouted 'Chor ,
chor .'
"PML workers also demonstrated against the
Chief Justice on
Constitution Avenue. That evening, government
sources briefed
journalists that Justice Ajmal Mian will be
sworn in as CJ the next
morning and CJ Sajjad Ali Shah will proceed
on leave.
"On the morning of November 28, I read a prominent
headline in the
'Daily Pakistan' announcing that the Muslim League
was to
demonstrate its strength outside the Supreme Court
that day. This
news story said that the PM and the CM Punjab had
directed PML MPAs
to bring Muslim League workers to Islamabad, via
the motorway, for
a show of strength. So, I left my home at 0700 hours
and arrived by
wagon outside the Supreme Court at 0815. At that
time, traffic was
flowing on Constitution Avenue and a few people
had arrived outside
the SC. Police reserves had just started taking
their positions.
The SSG Police group was led by Inspector Mehr
Yar Mohammed. SHO
Secretariat Jamil Hashmi and SHO Bahra Kahu,
Mussarat Khan were
also there with their men.
"At around 0830, people arrived in buses and
wagons from the
direction of Punjab House. Muslim League office
bearers from
Rawalpindi and Islamabad came with their workers.
MSF, Nawaz Sharif
Force and PML Women's Wing were particularly active.
Efforts were
made to get inside the SC. The gate was shut because
entry was
restricted to holders of entry passes, but certain
PML
parliamentarians were allowed entry without passes.
Demonstrators
held banners and placards reading 'We respect the
Court but Sajjad
Ali Shah is dishonest,' 'Jewish agent Sajjad Ali Shah,'
'Sajjad Ali
Shah na manzoor,' 'Justice demands that the Chief
Justice be
dismissed.'
Retired Major Rashid Warraich, head of Hizbollah,
was also present
and his group held up their own placards. Women
standing next to
the main gate were singing 'Qadam barhao Nawaz
Sharif, hum tumarhey
saath hein.'
"At 0900 serious slogan-mongering commenced.
The workers who had
come from Lahore were led by Akhtar Rasool,
MPA, and others, while
Rawalpindi workers were accompanied by MPAs
Sardar Naseem, Advocate
Akhtar Mahmood, and Chaudhry Tanveer Khan.
I know several of the
workers who were there, including Riaz Khan,
Shakil Awan, Zahid
Qureshi, Babar Awan, Maqbool Ahmed, Mumtaz Ahmed,
Farooq Khattak of
Zia Foundation, Ali Abbas and Liaquat Ali Khan.
From the Women's
Wing in the forefront were Javedi Fatima, Nilofar
Bakhtiar, Seema
Gilani, Tahira Shaukat, Naseem Ali and Mukhtar Begum.
Prominent in
the hullabaloo were Shahbaz Goshi, Suleman Khan,
Raja Hafiz,
Chaudhry Allah Ditta and Malik Shuja.
"At 0930 I entered Court No. 1 after showing my pass,
and sat on
the press seats, with Khushnood Ali Khan, Rao Khalid,
Wadood Qureshi,
Mushtaq Minhas, Nasir, Rashid Habib, and Zafar Shaikh.
Present in Court were MNAs Ejazul Haq, Khwaja Asif,
Asfandyar Wali,
MPAs Ashfaq Sarwar, Raja Basharat, Chaudhry Tanveer Khan,
Akhtar
Mahmood, Sardar Naseem, Senators Raja Aurangzeb and
Saifur Rahman,
and other PML MNAs, MPAs and office bearers.
"In the course of the proceedings, Khwaja Asif,
through his
counsel, sought permission from the Court to leave.
As the Chief
Justice was about to show the video cassette [of the
Assembly
session at which the alleged contempt took place]
MPAs Sardar
Naseem, Ashfaq Sarwar, Akhtar Mahmood and Ali Afzal
Jadoon also
left the Courtroom. Soon thereafter, a noise was heard
from outside
and Fakhr Zaman, the reporter for Zaman , a Turkish
publication,
entered the courtroom, panting, and shouted 'My Lord,
the court has
been attacked. They will kill you. The Judges should
protect
themselves.' The CJ remarked to S M Zafar, 'Thank you,
Mr Zafar, we
are now adjourning the proceedings, but your clients
will have to
bear the responsibility.'
"Soon after the Judges had left the courtroom a large
crowd led by
Sardar Naseem [who had gone out shortly before]
re-entered and
assaulted Fakhr Zaman. Some journalists intervened.
Outside the
courtroom, I saw demonstrators swaggering around in
different areas
of the building, carrying flags and placards. The ML
workers were
shouting slogans : 'Sajjad kutta hai hai', 'Leghari
kutta hai hai',
'Lotay judges na manzoor'. In the main hall of the
Court Khwaja
Asif, Zafar Ali Shah, and some other ML leaders wer
e telling the
workers to go back, but the main door of the building
was shut.
When I looked out from the balcony of the first floor,
hundreds of
demonstrators were shouting slogans inside the Supreme
Court
grounds while police inside and outside the building
stood as
silent spectators.
"I remained in the Court until 1200 hours gathering
material for my
press report. I present herewith a copy of Asas of
29/11/97."
The attention of the Judges was drawn to the back page
of the Asas
that carried the photograph of a huge banner, made to
measure, tied
and displayed over half the full length of the front
compound
railing of the Court, reading : "Istehkam-i- Pakistan
ka dushman
Sajjad Ali Shah Pakistan Muslim League." (Enemy of
the solidarity
of Pakistan, Sajjad Ali Shah - signed : PML).
The next hearing is on May 18. Another affidavit is
being submitted
to the Court to be placed on record, to which the
following have
been attached :
(a) A copy of letter dated November 28 1998 sent by
CJ P Sajjad Ali
Shah to President Leghari, in which he relates details
of the mob
attack that day.
(b) A copy of letter dated November 29, 1997, sent
by President
Leghari to PM Nawaz Sharif, forwarding a copy of the
CJP's letter,
in which he refers to : "...the disgraceful and
premeditated mob
assault on the Supreme Court of Pakistan on
28th November ...".
(c) A copy of the Prime Minister's November 29, 1997
rejoinder to
the President's letter.
(c) A video cassette of the recording of President
Leghari's
address to the press conference held on December 2,
1998 at which
he announced his resignation, and in which he made
reference to the
November 28 storming and desecration of the SC by
the "goons and
parliamentarians of the ruling party."
At the last hearing, it was requested that certain
concerned
persons be summoned by the Court to give their
statements. The
Court informed me that for this to be considered
I should make an
application. This is being done, listing the
following :
Former President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari; the
then IGP,
Islamabad; concerned officer of the ISI; the then
DIG Special
Branch, Islamabad; the then DG IB; Punjab CM
Shahbaz Sharif; SAPM
Anwar Zahid; Senator Iqbal Haider ; Zahid Husain
(Newsline and AP);
Fakhr Zaman (Turkish news agency Zaman);
Khushnood Ali Khan
(Khabrain); Rashid Hijazi (Daily Pakistan);
Faraz Hashmi (Dawn);
Aslam Khan (Internews); Zafar Shaikh (Nawa-i-Waqt);
Muhammad Ismail
and Naveed Mairaj (Frontier Post).
The sooner the better that our honourable judges
realize that thepeople are but trying to help
revive and rehabilitate the honour of the Supreme Court.
DAWN WIRE SERVICE
Week Ending : 16 May 1998 Issue : 04/19
Monday, 25 June 2007
A coloumn by Ardeshir Cowasjee
Week Ending : 16 May 1998 Issue : 04/19
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
980510
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Storming of the Supreme Court - 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
ON April 4, the Bench presided over by Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid,
sitting with Justices Munawar Ahmad Mirza and Abdur Rahman Khan,
now inquiring into the pre-planned Storming of the Supreme Court by
parliamentarians, members and supporters of the PML on November 28,
1997 heard the statements of three witnesses.
Media-wizard who knows all the tricks of the political trade,
Hussain Haqqani, filed his affidavit, as did Altaf Hussain Bhatti
of Asas / Lashkar, and Aslam Butt of the Frontier Post.
Haqqani suggested that the November 28 video recordings of the
Supreme Court CCTV cameras, and those made by the various TV crews,
be shown on PTV, and members of the general public invited to
identify any recognizable individuals. This is in line with the
action taken by the Tribunal that inquired into Murtaza Bhutto's
murder, also presided over by Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, which had
"published a notice in the newspapers that anyone in possession of
any information regarding the incident in question may send his
name and address and an affidavit to the Registrar of the
Tribunal...".
Brave Bhatti, shrugging off all 'inconveniences', filed his
affidavit, written in Urdu, relevant translated portions of which
read :
"I was an eye-witness to whatever happened outside and inside
Courtroom No.1 on November 28, 1997 and give this statement to
assist the apex court of the country in my capacity as a
responsible citizen.
"Whilst the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah
comprising Justices Bashir Jehangiri, Mohammed Arif, Maimoon Kazi
and Munir A Shaikh, was hearing the contempt of court case against
the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians on November 27, 1997,
Zafar Ali Shah, MNA, Advocate of the Supreme Court rose and said
that the Chief Justice could not conduct the Court, as after the
judgment of the Quetta Bench he was no longer CJ. Minister Chaudhry
Nisar Ali Khan, and MNAs/MPAs Kabir Khan, Inamullah Niazi, Sardar
Naseem and Advisor to PM Mushtaq Tahirkheli also stood up in Court
in support of Zafar Ali Shah. The Muslim League crowd present also
heckled the CJ, and when he declared that the Quetta Bench decision
was null and void in law they shouted 'Chor , chor .'
"PML workers also demonstrated against the Chief Justice on
Constitution Avenue. That evening, government sources briefed
journalists that Justice Ajmal Mian will be sworn in as CJ the next
morning and CJ Sajjad Ali Shah will proceed on leave.
"On the morning of November 28, I read a prominent headline in the
'Daily Pakistan' announcing that the Muslim League was to
demonstrate its strength outside the Supreme Court that day. This
news story said that the PM and the CM Punjab had directed PML MPAs
to bring Muslim League workers to Islamabad, via the motorway, for
a show of strength. So, I left my home at 0700 hours and arrived by
wagon outside the Supreme Court at 0815. At that time, traffic was
flowing on Constitution Avenue and a few people had arrived outside
the SC. Police reserves had just started taking their positions.
The SSG Police group was led by Inspector Mehr Yar Mohammed. SHO
Secretariat Jamil Hashmi and SHO Bahra Kahu, Mussarat Khan were
also there with their men.
"At around 0830, people arrived in buses and wagons from the
direction of Punjab House. Muslim League office bearers from
Rawalpindi and Islamabad came with their workers. MSF, Nawaz Sharif
Force and PML Women's Wing were particularly active. Efforts were
made to get inside the SC. The gate was shut because entry was
restricted to holders of entry passes, but certain PML
parliamentarians were allowed entry without passes. Demonstrators
held banners and placards reading 'We respect the Court but Sajjad
Ali Shah is dishonest,' 'Jewish agent Sajjad Ali Shah,' 'Sajjad Ali
Shah na manzoor,' 'Justice demands that the Chief Justice be
dismissed.'
Retired Major Rashid Warraich, head of Hizbollah, was also present
and his group held up their own placards. Women standing next to
the main gate were singing 'Qadam barhao Nawaz Sharif, hum tumarhey
saath hein.'
"At 0900 serious slogan-mongering commenced. The workers who had
come from Lahore were led by Akhtar Rasool, MPA, and others, while
Rawalpindi workers were accompanied by MPAs Sardar Naseem, Advocate
Akhtar Mahmood, and Chaudhry Tanveer Khan. I know several of the
workers who were there, including Riaz Khan, Shakil Awan, Zahid
Qureshi, Babar Awan, Maqbool Ahmed, Mumtaz Ahmed, Farooq Khattak of
Zia Foundation, Ali Abbas and Liaquat Ali Khan. From the Women's
Wing in the forefront were Javedi Fatima, Nilofar Bakhtiar, Seema
Gilani, Tahira Shaukat, Naseem Ali and Mukhtar Begum. Prominent in
the hullabaloo were Shahbaz Goshi, Suleman Khan, Raja Hafiz,
Chaudhry Allah Ditta and Malik Shuja.
"At 0930 I entered Court No. 1 after showing my pass, and sat on
the press seats, with Khushnood Ali Khan, Rao Khalid, Wadood Qureshi,
Mushtaq Minhas, Nasir, Rashid Habib, and Zafar Shaikh.
Present in Court were MNAs Ejazul Haq, Khwaja Asif, Asfandyar Wali,
MPAs Ashfaq Sarwar, Raja Basharat, Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, Akhtar
Mahmood, Sardar Naseem, Senators Raja Aurangzeb and Saifur Rahman,
and other PML MNAs, MPAs and office bearers.
"In the course of the proceedings, Khwaja Asif, through his
counsel, sought permission from the Court to leave. As the Chief
Justice was about to show the video cassette [of the Assembly
session at which the alleged contempt took place] MPAs Sardar
Naseem, Ashfaq Sarwar, Akhtar Mahmood and Ali Afzal Jadoon also
left the Courtroom. Soon thereafter, a noise was heard from outside
and Fakhr Zaman, the reporter for Zaman , a Turkish publication,
entered the courtroom, panting, and shouted 'My Lord, the court has
been attacked. They will kill you. The Judges should protect
themselves.' The CJ remarked to S M Zafar, 'Thank you, Mr Zafar, we
are now adjourning the proceedings, but your clients will have to
bear the responsibility.'
"Soon after the Judges had left the courtroom a large crowd led by
Sardar Naseem [who had gone out shortly before] re-entered and
assaulted Fakhr Zaman. Some journalists intervened. Outside the
courtroom, I saw demonstrators swaggering around in different areas
of the building, carrying flags and placards. The ML workers were
shouting slogans : 'Sajjad kutta hai hai', 'Leghari kutta hai hai',
'Lotay judges na manzoor'. In the main hall of the Court Khwaja
Asif, Zafar Ali Shah, and some other ML leaders were telling the
workers to go back, but the main door of the building was shut.
When I looked out from the balcony of the first floor, hundreds of
demonstrators were shouting slogans inside the Supreme Court
grounds while police inside and outside the building stood as
silent spectators.
"I remained in the Court until 1200 hours gathering material for my
press report. I present herewith a copy of Asas of 29/11/97."
The attention of the Judges was drawn to the back page of the Asas
that carried the photograph of a huge banner, made to measure, tied
and displayed over half the full length of the front compound
railing of the Court, reading : "Istehkam-i- Pakistan ka dushman
Sajjad Ali Shah Pakistan Muslim League." (Enemy of the solidarity
of Pakistan, Sajjad Ali Shah - signed : PML).
The next hearing is on May 18. Another affidavit is being submitted
to the Court to be placed on record, to which the following have
been attached :
(a) A copy of letter dated November 28 1998 sent by CJ P Sajjad Ali
Shah to President Leghari, in which he relates details of the mob
attack that day.
(b) A copy of letter dated November 29, 1997, sent by President
Leghari to PM Nawaz Sharif, forwarding a copy of the CJP's letter,
in which he refers to : "...the disgraceful and premeditated mob
assault on the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 28th November ...".
(c) A copy of the Prime Minister's November 29, 1997 rejoinder to
the President's letter.
(c) A video cassette of the recording of President Leghari's
address to the press conference held on December 2, 1998 at which
he announced his resignation, and in which he made reference to the
November 28 storming and desecration of the SC by the "goons and
parliamentarians of the ruling party."
At the last hearing, it was requested that certain concerned
persons be summoned by the Court to give their statements. The
Court informed me that for this to be considered I should make an
application. This is being done, listing the following :
Former President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari; the then IGP,
Islamabad; concerned officer of the ISI; the then DIG Special
Branch, Islamabad; the then DG IB; Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif; SAPM
Anwar Zahid; Senator Iqbal Haider ; Zahid Husain (Newsline and AP);
Fakhr Zaman (Turkish news agency Zaman); Khushnood Ali Khan
(Khabrain); Rashid Hijazi (Daily Pakistan); Faraz Hashmi (Dawn);
Aslam Khan (Internews); Zafar Shaikh (Nawa-i-Waqt); Muhammad Ismail
and Naveed Mairaj (Frontier Post).
The sooner the better that our honourable judges realize that the
people are but trying to help revive and rehabilitate the honour of
the Supreme Court.
Thursday, 14 December 2006
Former Prime Minister Benazir condemned the murder of Senior Journalist and paid tribute to Ismail Khan
Mohtarma Bhutto condemns murder of Muhammad Ismail
Asks for apprehending culprits, pays tributes to slain journalistIslamabad November 3, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed shock over the murder of journalist Muhammad Ismail Khan and demanded arrest of the assailants and punishment in accordance with the law.In a statement today the former Prime Minster said that the gruesome murder appeared to be targeted killing and most condemnable.She said that the journalists in Pakistan had come under increasing threats during the military dictatorship and urged the human rights bodies to raise their voice against it.Paying tributes she said that late Ismail Khan was an upright, fearless and conscientious journalist who was widely admired and respected in the community of journalists for his professionalism and qualities of character.His assailants may have fled but will never escape retribution, she said.Mohtarma Bhutto also prayed for eternal rest to the soul of the deceased and patience to the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.
Asks for apprehending culprits, pays tributes to slain journalistIslamabad November 3, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has expressed shock over the murder of journalist Muhammad Ismail Khan and demanded arrest of the assailants and punishment in accordance with the law.In a statement today the former Prime Minster said that the gruesome murder appeared to be targeted killing and most condemnable.She said that the journalists in Pakistan had come under increasing threats during the military dictatorship and urged the human rights bodies to raise their voice against it.Paying tributes she said that late Ismail Khan was an upright, fearless and conscientious journalist who was widely admired and respected in the community of journalists for his professionalism and qualities of character.His assailants may have fled but will never escape retribution, she said.Mohtarma Bhutto also prayed for eternal rest to the soul of the deceased and patience to the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.
Alert
PRINT PAGE
PPI Islamabad bureau chief Mohammad Ismail murdered
Country/Topic: PakistanDate: 02 November 2006Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Person(s): Mohammad IsmailTarget(s): journalist(s) Type(s) of violation(s): killed Urgency: Flash
(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 November 2006 CPJ press release:
Pakistani journalist slain; CPJ urges investigation
New York, November 1, 2006 - The Committee to Protect Journalists urges an immediate, high-level investigation into today's murder of Mohammad Ismail, Islamabad bureau chief for Pakistan Press International (PPI). Ismail's body was found this morning near his home in Islamabad with "his head completely smashed with some hard blunt object", according to Mazhar Abbas, secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. The Associated Press reported that a police investigator said an iron bar may have been used as a weapon.
Ismail, nearing retirement, was last seen when he left his house to take a late evening walk. Doctors who received the body when it was taken to hospital told PFUJ that Ismail had been dead for a few hours before the body was discovered.
Ismail's family told Abbas that they were at a loss as to what could have prompted the attack. They told him Ismail was carrying little of value when he was assaulted. Ismail's news agency is not known for particularly critical reporting of the government, CPJ research shows.
"Mohammad Ismail's murder must be fully investigated," said Joel Simon, CPJ's executive director. "An alarming number of Pakistani journalists have been killed with impunity in the last four years. The government must show that it is determined to end this very poor record by waging a timely and thorough investigation."
CPJ records show that at least nine journalists have been killed in Pakistan for their work beginning in 2002, when U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and brutally slain. Only in the Pearl case has the government carried out an extensive investigation, made arrests, and won convictions. During a CPJ mission to Pakistan in July, officials promised to review investigative records and reveal government information on the deaths of Pakistani journalists killed. To read CPJ's July report from Islamabad: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/asia/pak26july06na.html
To read more on killings in Pakistan, including the recent murder of reporter Hayatullah Khan: http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2006/deadly_news/khan.html
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cpj.org
, visit http://www.cpj.org
PRINT PAGE
PPI Islamabad bureau chief Mohammad Ismail murdered
Country/Topic: PakistanDate: 02 November 2006Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Person(s): Mohammad IsmailTarget(s): journalist(s) Type(s) of violation(s): killed Urgency: Flash
(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 November 2006 CPJ press release:
Pakistani journalist slain; CPJ urges investigation
New York, November 1, 2006 - The Committee to Protect Journalists urges an immediate, high-level investigation into today's murder of Mohammad Ismail, Islamabad bureau chief for Pakistan Press International (PPI). Ismail's body was found this morning near his home in Islamabad with "his head completely smashed with some hard blunt object", according to Mazhar Abbas, secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. The Associated Press reported that a police investigator said an iron bar may have been used as a weapon.
Ismail, nearing retirement, was last seen when he left his house to take a late evening walk. Doctors who received the body when it was taken to hospital told PFUJ that Ismail had been dead for a few hours before the body was discovered.
Ismail's family told Abbas that they were at a loss as to what could have prompted the attack. They told him Ismail was carrying little of value when he was assaulted. Ismail's news agency is not known for particularly critical reporting of the government, CPJ research shows.
"Mohammad Ismail's murder must be fully investigated," said Joel Simon, CPJ's executive director. "An alarming number of Pakistani journalists have been killed with impunity in the last four years. The government must show that it is determined to end this very poor record by waging a timely and thorough investigation."
CPJ records show that at least nine journalists have been killed in Pakistan for their work beginning in 2002, when U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and brutally slain. Only in the Pearl case has the government carried out an extensive investigation, made arrests, and won convictions. During a CPJ mission to Pakistan in July, officials promised to review investigative records and reveal government information on the deaths of Pakistani journalists killed. To read CPJ's July report from Islamabad: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/asia/pak26july06na.html
To read more on killings in Pakistan, including the recent murder of reporter Hayatullah Khan: http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2006/deadly_news/khan.html
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cpj.org
, visit http://www.cpj.org
Murder of Malik Ismail
Pakistani journalist slain; CPJ urges investigation
New York, November 1, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges an immediate, high-level investigation into today’s murder of Mohammad Ismail, Islamabad bureau chief for Pakistan Press International (PPI). Ismail’s body was found this morning near his home in Islamabad with “his head completely smashed with some hard blunt object” according to Mazhar Abbas, secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. The Associated Press reported that a police investigator said an iron bar may have been used as a weapon.Ismail, nearing retirement, was last seen when he left his house to take a late evening walk. Doctors who received the body when it was taken to hospital told PFUJ that Ismail had been dead a few hours before the body was discovered. Ismail’s family told Abbas that they were at a loss as to what could have prompted the attack. They told him Ismail was carrying little of value when he was assaulted. Ismail’s news agency is not known for particularly critical reporting of the government, CPJ research shows “Mohammad Ismail’s murder must be fully investigated,” said Joel Simon, CPJ’s executive director. “An alarming number of Pakistani journalists have been killed with impunity in the last four years. The government must show that it is determined to end this very poor record by waging a timely and thorough investigation.” CPJ records show that at least nine journalists have been killed for their work beginning in 2002, when U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and brutally slain. Only in the Pearl case has the government carried out an extensive investigation, made arrests, and won convictions. During a CPJ mission to Pakistan in July, officials promised to review investigative records and reveal government information on the deaths of Pakistani journalists killed.Read CPJ’s July report from Islamabad.
Read more on killings in Pakistan, including the recent murder of reporter Hayatullah Khan
Hayatullah Khan
New York, November 1, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges an immediate, high-level investigation into today’s murder of Mohammad Ismail, Islamabad bureau chief for Pakistan Press International (PPI). Ismail’s body was found this morning near his home in Islamabad with “his head completely smashed with some hard blunt object” according to Mazhar Abbas, secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. The Associated Press reported that a police investigator said an iron bar may have been used as a weapon.Ismail, nearing retirement, was last seen when he left his house to take a late evening walk. Doctors who received the body when it was taken to hospital told PFUJ that Ismail had been dead a few hours before the body was discovered. Ismail’s family told Abbas that they were at a loss as to what could have prompted the attack. They told him Ismail was carrying little of value when he was assaulted. Ismail’s news agency is not known for particularly critical reporting of the government, CPJ research shows “Mohammad Ismail’s murder must be fully investigated,” said Joel Simon, CPJ’s executive director. “An alarming number of Pakistani journalists have been killed with impunity in the last four years. The government must show that it is determined to end this very poor record by waging a timely and thorough investigation.” CPJ records show that at least nine journalists have been killed for their work beginning in 2002, when U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and brutally slain. Only in the Pearl case has the government carried out an extensive investigation, made arrests, and won convictions. During a CPJ mission to Pakistan in July, officials promised to review investigative records and reveal government information on the deaths of Pakistani journalists killed.Read CPJ’s July report from Islamabad.
Read more on killings in Pakistan, including the recent murder of reporter Hayatullah Khan
Hayatullah Khan
CPJ strongly condemned
CPJ seeks probe into journalist’s murder
PAKISTAN » Home page » 03 November 2006
WASHINGTON: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged an immediate, high-level investigation into the murder of Muhammad Ismail, Islamabad bureau chief of Pakistan Press International (PPI).CPJ, quoting Mazhar Abbas, secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, noted that Ismail’s body was found on Wednesday morning near his home in Islamabad with his head smashed. The Associated Press reported a police investigator saying that an iron bar may have been used as the weapon. Ismail, nearing retirement, was last seen when he left his house to take a late evening walk. Doctors who received the body when it was taken to hospital told PFUJ that Ismail had been dead a few hours before the body was discovered.CPJ said Ismail’s family told Abbas that they were at a loss to understand as to what could have prompted the attack. They told him that Ismail was carrying little of value on him when he was assaulted. PPI is not known for particularly critical reporting of the government, CPJ said.Joel Simon, CPJ executive director, said Ismail’s murder must be fully investigated. An alarming number of Pakistani journalists have been killed with impunity in the last four years, he pointed out, while urging that the government must show that it is determined to end this very poor record by waging a timely and thorough investigation.CPJ records show that at least nine journalists have been killed for their work beginning in 2002, when Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and brutally slain in Pakistan. Only in the Pearl case has the government carried out an extensive investigation.
DAILY TIMES DAWN
PAKISTAN » Home page » 03 November 2006
WASHINGTON: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged an immediate, high-level investigation into the murder of Muhammad Ismail, Islamabad bureau chief of Pakistan Press International (PPI).CPJ, quoting Mazhar Abbas, secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, noted that Ismail’s body was found on Wednesday morning near his home in Islamabad with his head smashed. The Associated Press reported a police investigator saying that an iron bar may have been used as the weapon. Ismail, nearing retirement, was last seen when he left his house to take a late evening walk. Doctors who received the body when it was taken to hospital told PFUJ that Ismail had been dead a few hours before the body was discovered.CPJ said Ismail’s family told Abbas that they were at a loss to understand as to what could have prompted the attack. They told him that Ismail was carrying little of value on him when he was assaulted. PPI is not known for particularly critical reporting of the government, CPJ said.Joel Simon, CPJ executive director, said Ismail’s murder must be fully investigated. An alarming number of Pakistani journalists have been killed with impunity in the last four years, he pointed out, while urging that the government must show that it is determined to end this very poor record by waging a timely and thorough investigation.CPJ records show that at least nine journalists have been killed for their work beginning in 2002, when Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and brutally slain in Pakistan. Only in the Pearl case has the government carried out an extensive investigation.
DAILY TIMES DAWN
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